University of Richmond Athletics
Men's Soccer Adds Seven Newcomers For 2011 Season
May 12, 2011
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Richmond head coach Clint Peay announced the addition of seven newcomers to the program for the 2011 season. The Spiders will welcome Colby<1>Abrahamoff (Davie, Fla.), Timmy Albright (Richmond, Va.), Sean Baker (Allentown, Pa.), Nick Butler (Bedminster, N.J.), Thomas Hand (Moorestown, N.J.), Oliver Murphy (Washington Crossing, Pa.) and Joel Teah (Monrovia, Liberia) this fall.
"I believe our 2011 class is a quality group of young men," Peay said. "Each of them have characteristics and traits that will add value to our program. After losing six seniors it was important to find quality and depth in some key positions on the field. I feel we achieved that objective with the seven student-athletes we have joining us next fall. "
Colby Abrahamoff is a 5-foot-10 defender from Davie, Fla., where he played three years for coach Marcello Neveleff at American Heritage School. Abrahamoff was a starter as a freshman at Coopier City High School, earning the team's Most Outstanding Offensive Player award. He transferred to American Heritage School where he started for three years, helping the team to a district championship.
"Colby is a very technical player that will fit nicely into the style of play that we are creating here at UR," Peay said. "He has wonderful vision and great passing range with both feet. He is a very versatile player that can play as a wide back or as holding midfielder. Colby has a quiet confidence about him that I believe will give him a good chance to excel while at Richmond."
Timmy Albright was a four-year starter at Collegiate School in Richmond. 
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Timmy Albright is the son of University of Richmond women's soccer head coach Peter Albright. The 6-foot-2 forward was a four-year starter at Collegiate School here in Richmond, serving as team captain and earning team MVP honors as a senior. Albright was also a First-Team All-State selection, First-Team All-Prep League and First-Team All-Metro selection as a senior. He helped Collegiate to the Prep League title as a junior and state runner-up finish as both a junior and senior. Albright was the leading scorer in the state tournament as a senior with eight goals.
"Timmy is a player that we believe has a tremendous upside," Peay said. "He does well as a target forward, and he is one of the most efficient goal scorers that I've have seen in this class. He is also a very intelligent player that makes others better. He has impeccable integrity as a person, and I look forward to seeing what type of impact he can have on our program."
Nick Butler helped Bernards High (N.J.) to three conference titles and a county semifinal appearance.
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Sean Baker is a 6-foot-2 midfielder from Allentown, Pa., who was a four-year starter for coach Mark Allinson at Salisbury High School. As a senior he was named All State by the Pennsylvania State Coaches Association and ESPN RISE. Baker was also named First-Team All-Area, First-Team All Colonial League and Morning Call Player of the Year. He was First-Team All-Colonial League and Second-Team All-Area as a junior Second-Team All-Colonial League and Honorable Mention All-Area as a sophomore.
"Sean has been fired up about attending Richmond since our conversation," Peay said. "I really like his competitive personality that he showcases on the field. He can mix it up physically as well as play a very technical brand of soccer. We got to see him closely at our camp last summer, and he really impressed me with his size, speed, technical ability, and work ethic."
Oliver Murphy was a two-time First-Team All-State selection at The Pennington School (N.J.)
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Nick Butler is a 6-foot-4 defender from Bedminister, N.J., where he was a three-year starter at Bernards High School for coach Joe LaSpada. Butler was a two-time All-Skyland Conference selection and two-time All-Area pick as he helped Bernards High to three conference titles, three county semifinal appearances. He was tabbed All-Somerset County and All-State as a senior, helping lead Bernards to the state sectional finals.
"Nick has an incredible love for the game of soccer," Peay said. "He is a modern center back that enjoys creating as much as he does breaking up attacks. I'm excited to work with him on a full-time basis to help develop him further.
Thomas Hand is a 6-foot-2 goalkeeper from Moorestown, N.J., where he three-year letterwinner for coach Mike Sutcliffe at Morestown High. Hand was named a Top Player To Watch in 2010 by ESPN RISE and was a first-team all-conference selection as a senior. He helped lead Moorestown to the 2008 and 2010 South Jersey Group III titles, along with an appearance in the New Jersey State Finals in 2008 and Semifinals in 2009.
"I'm very excited to have Thomas joining our program in the fall," Peay said. "He has gained some valuable experience as goalkeeper with the PDA Academy team in the last few years. Thomas has aspirations after college so we are excited to work with him to make him the best goalkeeper that he can be."
Thomas Hand was named a Top Player To Watch in 2010 by ESPN RISE.
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Oliver Murphy is a 5-foot-11 midfielder from Washington Crossing, Pa. where he was a four year starter for coach Chad Bridges at the Pennington School. Murphy was a two-year team captain and was named First-Team All-State by the Newark Star Ledger as a junior and senior. He was a three-time Trentonian All-County and Trenton Times All-Area selection.
"Oliver is a tough no nonsense player," Peay said. "He is a terrific ball winner and covers a tremendous amount of ground in the midfield. Oliver leads by example and often inspires the players around him. With the ball he has shown vision and understanding of how to stretch defenses."
Joel Teah led Greensboro Day School in goals as a junior and senior.
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Joel Teah is a 5-foot-10 forward from Monrovia, Liberia who was a three-time all-conference selection and two-time NCSCA All-State honoree for coach Taylor Johnson at Greensboro (N.C.) Day School. Teah scored 30 goals and had six assists as a junior and 26 goals and 16 assists as a senior as he led Greensboro to back-to-back North Carolina State Championships. He was a two-time all-area selection as he helped Greensboro Day to a No. 34 ranking in 2009 and No. 29 national ranking in 2010.
"Joel is a wonderful story," Peay said. "He has been displaced from his home country of Liberia as a youth and has found a new home in Greensboro, NC. Joel is a positive person and one of the hardest working young men that I've ever known. We see Joel playing as a forward for us. His strength and skill make him a handful for defenders. I'm looking forward to working with him to see how far he can go as a player."